Damage control: injuries a concern early on in season

Down … Pat McCutcheon leaves the field with an ankle injury. Photo: Getty Images

THREE rounds into the season and the Waratahs have plunged deeper into injury crisis with breakaway Pat McCutcheon's season in doubt after suffering a severe ankle injury last night.

The No.7 was carted from the field and taken to hospital just minutes into the second half after being caught in an awkward tackle from behind scoring the Waratahs' only try from a charge down.

In his first match back from a calf strain and as a replacement for fellow injured breakaway Chris Alcock, McCutcheon's injury was the last thing coach Michael Foley needed.

''Cutch went to the hospital for X-rays and at this point it doesn't look like there's a fracture but he'll have a scan on the ankle to follow up and see if there is any ligament damage,'' Foley said. ''It's obviously not ideal and we won't know more until Sunday.''

The Waratahs' long-term injury list now stands at seven, with internationals Dan Vickerman, Rocky Elsom, Drew Mitchell, Lachie Turner, Wycliff Palu plus Damien Fitzpatrick and now McCutcheon all sidelined for between two weeks and the season.

McCutheon's injury caps off a horror week for the Waratahs and while there are never any excuses for losing, the NSW players have fair claim. After Fitzpatrick underwent surgery earlier in the week the team was then rocked by the withdrawal of Alcock before a six-hour delay to Dunedin and a consequent 12-hour journey forced Palu to withdraw.

Take into account that Lopeti Timani only arrived Friday night after spending the week in Tonga and the disruption to their preparation is almost unprecedented.

''There were significant disruptions, which is not by way of excuse,'' coach Foley said. ''I just thought the boys overcame those things really well and got stuck into the game. To be coach of these boys, I'm really proud.''

Meanwhile, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has taken responsibility for his side's ineffectiveness at the lineout but is adamant his throwing technique isn't the issue.

''The set piece was one where we wanted to apply pressure and we did get them at the scrum but we needed a bit more work at the lineout area,'' Polota-Nau said.

''It's more of composure than technique. I think building pressure is what we need to do better and tonight we didn't do that as well as we should have and mistakes cost us the game.

''I think it's more of a case of us having to work on ourselves a bit more because it wasn't the opposition who was putting us under pressure it was us putting ourselves under pressure at key times.''